This time Michigan is serving as host. The Badgers are coming to Crisler Center having won three straight after dropping five of six Big Ten games. They’re climbing back into the national conversation after plummeting from a No. 3 ranking held prior to the loss against Michigan. The Wolverines, meanwhile, sit atop the Big Ten standings and hold the higher ranking.

Now Wisconsin wants the win.

"They shot really well here (Madison) and now they're at home, so they're going to be even more comfortable," Badgers leading scorer Sam Dekker said Friday, according to uwbadgers.com. "We have to make a concerted effort to make every shot tough. Guys like (Nik) Stauskas and (Glenn) Robinson were coming off curl screens and hitting shots.

"We have to limit that and do what we do and stick to our rules and play defense."

Defense would be a good start.

Michigan made 17-of-28 first-half shots and shot 54.7 percent from the field overall in the first matchup. Stauskas scored 23, Robinson added 14 and Caris LeVert finished with 20 points. Stauskas and LeVert hit three 3-pointers apiece.

Most of Michigan's damage, though, came on an array of mid-range jumpers.

Michigan allowed four Badgers to reach double figures on Jan. 18. Wisconsin made 26-of-60 attempts, but had only nine assists.

One of UW's downfalls came from missing its usual load of free throws. The Badgers average 23.4 trips to the stripe per game, but attempted only 14 that game.

U-M's victory came amidst the Badgers' midseason swoon. They've rebounded since, thanks in part to the emergence of freshman reserve Nigel Hayes, a Big Ten sixth man of the year candidate. The 6-foot-7 forward is the league's top-scoring reserve at 10.9 points per game.

That's how the Badgers notched a 60-58 win over Michigan State last weekend. On Thursday they beat Minnesota, 78-70. Back when they lost five of six, the Badgers’ worst performance came in an 81-68 road loss to the Gophers.

The game was avenged.

Now Wisconsin is looking to do the same to Michigan.

The Wolverines, the Big Ten's lone team that's undefeated at home in conference play, haven't beaten the Badgers twice during the regular season since 1998.

Reader reaction
How would you rate Michigan's home-court advantage this season compared to last? U-M has the best Big Ten home record at 5-0, but now faces back-to-back games at Crisler Center against Wisconsin and Michigan State. Has it been the slate of games (Northwestern, Penn State, Iowa, Purdue, Nebraska)? Friendly rims? Crisler's environment? Your thoughts?

Brendan F. Quinn covers University of Michigan basketball. Follow him on Twitter for the latest on Wolverines hoops. He can be contacted at bquinn@mlive.com